ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday imposed a Rs25 million fine on K-Electric (KE) for its operational lapses during the massive nationwide power breakdown in January 2023.
According to Nepra, the penalty follows a detailed inquiry that found KE responsible for several internal deficiencies and operational failures. The regulator rejected the company’s explanations as unsatisfactory and unacceptable. Nepra stated that K-Electric failed to justify internal faults and errors within its own power system and could not shift full responsibility onto the National Grid.
The inquiry also revealed that KE’s Black Start capability—a key system meant to restart power generation independently during a blackout—did not function effectively during the crisis. Despite earlier drills, the system failed when needed most. “Technical flaws in KE’s Black Start plants remained unresolved, and repeated trippings during the blackout exposed weaknesses in existing safety mechanisms,” Nepra said in its findings. The regulator directed K-Electric to deposit the fine within 15 days.
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On January 23, 2023, Pakistan experienced one of its worst nationwide blackouts, leaving millions without power for several hours. The outage disrupted daily life, businesses, and essential services across the country—from Islamabad to Karachi.
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Despite operational challenges, K-Electric recently reported a profit of PKR 4.13 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The company’s board, in its meeting held on September 23, 2025, approved the financial results, noting that the power sector faced high inflation, elevated policy rates, and slow economic growth during FY24.